Ducks stuck in neutral in season-opener

Oct. 8, 2010

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks gets set to take a shot on Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Detroit Red Wings center Mike Modano (90) is congratulated by teammates after a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Detroit, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. CARLOS OSORIO, AP

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Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf (15) is checked by Detroit Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula (51) of Finland during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. CARLOS OSORIO, AP

Livonia, Michigan, native Mike Modano raises his stick to the crowd during player introductions before his first game as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. The 40-year-old went on to score a first-period goal against the Anaheim Ducks at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday, October 8, 2010. JULIAN H. GONZALEZ, MCT

Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks snows Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings as he makes a save during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Corey Perry #10 of the Anaheim Ducks battles for the puck in front of Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings as teammates Jonathan Ericsson #52, Pavel Datsyuk #13 and Nicklas Lidstrom #5 all defend during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings makes a save against the Anaheim Ducks during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Todd Bertuzzi #44 of the Detroit Red Wings keeps his eyes on the play along with Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Tomas Holmstrom #96 of the Detroit Red Wings battles for position with Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Anaheim Ducks during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings carries the puck as he is defended by Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Anaheim Ducks during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings skates after a loose puck against the Anaheim Ducks at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

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Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) of Russia celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Detroit, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. CARLOS OSORIO, AP

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Detroit Red Wings winger Dan Cleary (11) gets the puck past the defense of Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller (1) of the Czech Republic during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Detroit, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. CARLOS OSORIO, AP

Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks gets set to take a shot on Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings during their NHL game at Joe Louis Arena on October 8, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. DAVE SANDFORD, GETTY IMAGES

DETROIT – The questions that surrounded the Ducks during a less-than-inspiring camp followed them into the regular season.

Facing the Detroit Red Wings on any given evening at Joe Louis Arena is a tall order under any circumstance, but the Ducks didn't offer much in a season-opening 4-0 loss Friday night.

No part of their game was ideal as the revamped defense struggled early, the expected potent offense never materialized, and goalie Jonas Hiller wasn't sharp. Longtime Dallas star Mike Modano scored in his first game with the Wings to highlight their usual balanced attack.

"It looks like we weren't ready," said Hiller, who was peppered with 43 shots. "It probably starts with me and goes up all the way through. You can't just go out there and play at 80 percent if you play the Detroit Red Wings. It's just not possible."

The Red Wings took control in the first few minutes, and Johan Franzen cashed in a nice give-and-go play with Valterri Filppula for a lead 5:11 into the game. Modano scored 24 seconds later with a wrist shot past a screened Hiller for a 2-0 lead.

"I think we stood around and watched for a good while of it," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "And then we allowed them to play give and go, and they moved off the puck like they normally do. And we didn't want to be willing to stop progression."

Pavel Datsyuk scored in the second period and set up Dan Cleary's crease-crashing goal that Datsyuk finished off his so-called "Gordie Howe hat trick" (a goal, an assist and a fight) by winning a fight with Corey Perry in the third period.

Meanwhile, the Ducks were frustrated by Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard and took out their aggression as Perry and George Parros each got 10-minute misconducts. Howard recorded his fourth career shutout.

The night only got worse as they learned that defenseman Andy Sutton suffered a fractured right thumb as he was punching Detroit's Ruslan Salei in a scrum.

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